Sleep Better With Blue Light Blocking Glasses

What does Mama Natural have in common with Bono and construction workers? We all wear special glasses at night.

I wear these amber glasses (blue light blocking glasses) to block out blue light at night, and in this video & post, I’ll tell you why that’s a very good thing. (Update: I like the way these glasses look better 🙂

Our TVs, laptops, phones, and other devices can really mess up our sleep

That’s because those devices emit short-wavelength, or “blue” light, which has been proven to disrupt our melatonin production. Melatonin is the natural hormone that encourages sleep.

When you mess with your sleep, you mess with your health

Studies show that lack of sleep can weaken our immune system, increase inflammation, make us more prone to being overweight and depressed, and even increase our risk of death!

And researchers now believe that sleep deprivation is the #1 predictor of obesity in children.

Our gadgets aren’t the only problem

It’s not just the lights from our gadgets that are suppress our melatonin levels. One study found that just an hour of exposure to moderately bright light can suppress melatonin to near daytime levels…. which is virtually non-existent. Once again, melatonin lulls our bodies into sleep and our body starts producing it around 9 p.m.

So the intensity of the light matters, as well as the “blue” light.

What’s the solution?

Well, these blue light blocking glasses are one way to solve the problem. They block blue light regardless of its source, which lets your body produce the melatonin that helps you feel drowsy and sleep through the night.

How I use blue light blocking glasses at night

Every night at about 8, I put these babies on no matter what I’m doing – using my laptop, reading, or just hanging out. I for sure use them in the bright lights of the bathroom when I’m brushing and flossing and getting ready for bed. I even have them on hand if Paloma wakes up in middle of the night for a feeding.

Overall, I try to reduce my exposure to bright lights. So that means opting for dimmer light sources like lamps versus overhead light.

Other ways to block blue light

Some other things you can use to block blue light include:

Special amber light bulbs. You can find tons of bulbs on Amazon that people use as “blue blockers.”

Other companies sell blue shields that you can place over your TV, laptop, and smartphone

Finally, you can check out free software for your laptop and smartphone called f.lux that automatically adjusts your screen’s brightness and color based on your timezone.

For me, the glasses are best

For me, the amber glasses are the easiest solution. Super easy to wear, and you can just get on with your night as you normally do.

Here are some more stylish options

Okay, if you can’t handle the dork factor of the glasses in my photo, try these options:

Who should wear blue light blocking glasses?

If you’re a great sleeper who can fall asleep anywhere, anytime, let me first say that I’m totally jealous, and also that you can feel free to skip these glasses and enjoy your awesome sleep powers.

If, like me, you have the occasional bad night, you have pregnancy insomnia, or you’re a light sleeper, give these glasses a try. I’ll have a link where you can find them in the video description below.

How about you?

Have you ever felt like too much light or computer work can keep you awake at night? Would you wear crazy blue light blocking glasses like this even if the rest of your family thinks you’re nuts? Share with me in the comments below!

Amy Dec 12 at 2:44 pm

Janice Mar 4 at 7:10 pm

I was reading a different article that talked about the orange tinted glasses. Have you notice other colors not at noticeable.
Inexpensive sunglasses with orange-tinted lenses block blue light, but they also block other colors, so they’re not suitable for use indoors at night. Glasses that block out only blue light can cost up to $80.

k.mike@ flashlight Nov 26 at 10:44 pm

The perils of this blue light are genuine. Like you said, only a hour of screen time around evening time can adequately remove our bodies melatonin creation, which isn’t great. These blue light blocking glasses appear like a smart thought!

Rosea Webs Sep 21 at 11:35 pm

Silas Knight Jul 25 at 3:07 pm

The dangers of this blue light are real. Like you said, just an hour of screen time at night can effectively cut off our bodies melatonin production, which isn’t good. These blue light blocking glasses seem like a good idea!

Matthew Nov 30 at 6:37 pm

wallace Feb 9 at 4:49 am

Amie Dec 19 at 4:42 pm

Personally, I didn’t find these to be very comfortable but did happen to find another style called melatonin shades… there’s a foamy lining on the inside that feels a lot better and seems to keep the light out from the edges better too 🙂

careful with this one Jun 6 at 12:14 pm

Yes, but unfortunately the company is a mess. I ordered a pair of via their website and when I received my credit card statement, the charge was almost 50% higher than my invoice. Its a Canadian company, but they decided to charge me in US dollars (they have since updated their website to show USD- still a joke given they are based in BC). I tried to cancel the order but they delivered it, so I immediately returned the product for a refund. Canada Post tracking info shows they refused the package (not that it couldn’t be delivered, but they actually turned it away). Avoid them.

Rebeka Oct 7 at 8:14 pm

I have found that too much light bothers me. Definitely computer light but sometimes in the evening I need something to read to keep my mind occupied. The worst thing I feel in the morning when my husband turns on all the light bulbs in the bathroom from our bedroom. It is very irritating. I also find sound, radio extremely irritating when going to sleep and my husband on the other hand needs radio to fall asleep.
I am also an ADD person so my mind is running fast anyway, but when I am really tired I will fall asleep like a baby.

I’m with you on the light and sound, especially at night! Papa Natural has a hard time falling asleep if there’s any noise, so he frequently uses these earplugs at night: http://amzn.to/1xyxxRp Maybe those can help?